Unpaid OPT, 45 Days in India: F-1 Panic Trip Ends

Indian students and workers are feeling rising anxiety about travelling home under the current administration. Even when you carry valid documents, fear around sudden visa rules is forcing many to cancel trips, unsure if re-entry into the US will remain smooth.

Reddit post offers rare relief

Amid this stress, an F-1 OPT student shared a re-entry experience on Reddit that eased some concerns. The student graduated in May 2025, travelled to India for 45 days, and returned to the US without facing any trouble.

Dallas-Fort Worth entry experience

The student entered through Dallas-Fort Worth, a port often seen as strict due to heavy Desi traffic. You might expect tough questioning there, but the reality turned out to be surprisingly straightforward.

Simple checks by CBP officers

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers checked the passport and I-20 and asked one routine question about food. They did not ask for the EAD or send the student for secondary inspection.

Fear fuelled by online chatter

Before travelling, online discussions and recent visa actions had increased the student’s fear. They admitted boarding the flight expecting problems, turning the nine hour journey into an exhausting and stressful experience.

Re-entry fears still widespread

Ongoing news about stricter monitoring, site visits, and F-1 terminations has made many believe re-entry feels like a gamble. That fear remains strong across the student and worker community.

Not all doors are closed

This experience shows that routine entries still happen. The system remains inconsistent and unpredictable, but it is not uniformly hostile, and simple checks continue to offer relief to anxious travellers.